Toilet tissue storage and dispenser



g- 1963' C(MQCLELLAND ETAL 3,101,181

I TOILET TISSUE STORAGE AND DISPENSER Filed Oct. 9, 196E 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ZEW/ C ALDE/CH J2 CHAPZEJ M CZEZlA/VD ATTOPNEVS Aug. 20, 1963 c. M. CLELLAND EQTAL TOILET TISSUE STORAGE AND DISPENSER Filed Oct. 9, 1961 WMMWIQ/M rToelvz /s toilet tissue.

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Patented Aug..20, 1963 ammer f i i Toner rrssos sronnon AND nrsrnusnn Charles M. Clelland, 1923 Seminole St Kalamazoo Township, Kalamazoo Coun y, Mich, and Lewis G. Aldrich, In, 12 1 V Filed Oct. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 143,907

- 6 Claims. ((31.242-553) This invention relates to an improved toilet tissue storing and dispensing device and, "more particularly, relates to a toilet tissue storing and dispensing device which in I The conventional toilet tissue dispenser comprises a single'rolleror spindle for supporting a single roll of When thisis usedup, the core of the roll is removed and a fresh roll is inserted in its place. Thus,

. it is necessary to obtain a fresh roll frorn'astor'age place and this is inconvenient and awkward.

This problem has been recognized heretofore and a number of toilet tissue dispensers having arrangements for storingrolls therein have been suggested heretofore.

These dispensing devices, however, have not been completely satisfactory and they have not achieved substantial commercial acceptance. 1 Particularly, the prior stor- W. Kelsy St, Three Rivers-Mich. 1

Ioftoile-t tissue in dispensing position is accessibleithrough the opening 13. 7 1 I 1 The casing 11 is mounted, here by being recessed within an appropriate opening 15', in the wall W on which the device 10 is. mounted. The casing has a back wall 16 which is connected by arcuate portions 17 and 18 to the 'top and bottomwalls 19 and 21, respectively. The oasing .11 also has end walls 22 and, 2s. The walls 19, 2-1;

22 and23 have reversely curved flanges 24 attheir outer ends, the free edges of said flanges being adapted to engage the wall W on which the devicelti is mounted. The eludes means for storing a plurality of rolls or toilet tissue and which is provided with mechanism for moving flanges 24 are formed to provide shoulders 26. The front plate 12 rests against the shoulders 26 and is secured thereto by suitable fastening means, such as screws27. The back wall of the casing is secured to the wall-.W by suitable fastening means, such as screws'v28'. I ,Therightward end Wall 22 has an oifset portion 31 adjacent the lower end thereof. The offset portion 31 of the wall '22 has a central, leftwardly projecting boss 32 and said boss'has a pilot recess 33 in the center thereof.

The leftward end wall 23 has a leftwardly projecting, stepped, oifset portion 36 which includes an axially inner pa-rt'37 and an axially outer part 38. A spindle support ing and dispensing devices have usually stackedthe rolls in a vertical row. Thus, the dispensing device is vertically elongated and has a somewhat unsightly appearance.

when the previously .used roll has been consumed. j i I 1 i -It' is a further object of this invention to provide an improved device, as aforesaid, in which at least some of the rolls in storage are horizontally spacedfrom theroll in V use and mechanism is provided to move such stored rolls horizontally into the dispensing position.

It is a further object of thisinvention to provide an improved device, as aforesaid, which is compact and which has an attractive appearance.

It is a further object ofthi-s invention to provide an im- 4 1 is secured to the internal. 'surfacenof" the part 38 by screws 4-2. The support 41 includesla tubular center post 43 which is axially aligned with the pilot recess 33.

A tubular, stationary spindle 44 is sleeved over and is atfixed to'the post 43 and extends axially'therefrom toward the recess 33 substantially as far as the leftward'edge of the opening 13in the front plate 12.

The spindle support 41 also has a circular, stepped, axially extending flange 46 which comprises a radiallyinner part 47 and a'radially outer part 48; The spindle support 41 also has l e-enforcingribs 49 extending from the outer edge of outer part 48 toward the post 43, the ribs defining a frusto-conical recess51.

A tubular, sliding spindle 56 is coaxial with andis'telescopically mounted on the stationary spindle 44.; The sliding spindle 56 has a frusto-conical flange 57 at its left-;" ward end for purposes appearing hereinafter. Therightwardend of the sliding'spindle 56 is slidably receivable in the pilot recess 33. The end wall'58 of spindle 56 has A, coil spring 61 is disposed within the central opening in the stationaryspindle 44 and the sliding spindle 56 and an offset central portion. 59.

one of its ends abuts-against the end of post 43. The

proved dispenser, as aforesaid which has a minimum of working parts, which is inexpensive to manufacture and which can be operated easily'and conveniently.

Other objects and advantages of this' invention become apparent to persons acquainted with equipment of "this type upon reading the' following disclosure and examining the accompanying drawings, 7 c In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational View or the toilet tissue storing and dispensing device embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View taken along the line III-lll of FIGURE-2; j I

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view. taken along the line IV-IV in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE in a sectional view taken along the The toilet'tissue storage anddispens' g device 10 em bodying the invention includes a substantially cupshaped casing 11 and a decorative front plate 12. The front 1 plate 12 is substantially rectangular and it has a substan- .tially rectangular cut-away part adjacent the lower, right hand corner thereof defining an opening 13. The roll R line other end of'said spring 61 abuts against the wall 58 and surrounds the offset portion 59. The spring 61isunder compression and,"thus, it normally holds the spindles 44 and '56 in their extended positions with respect to each other, as shown in FIGURE 3, wherein the spindle 56 extends across the, opening 13' and is'piloted in the recess 33.

handle :63 isdisposed in front of the casing 11 and normally disposed adjacent the lower edge of the opening 13in the front plate 12. The handle .63 is connected by an arm-=64- to a pivotally mounted actuating and support member 66. The memberofi is an elongatedirod having a central portion 67 extending crosswise of'the casing 11 parallel with the spindles v44- and 56 from adjacent'o-nej end wall '22 to adjacent the othei end wall 2.3. At its extending portion 71 which is bent at'its inne end to form" her 66 can be moved from the position. shown in FIGURE rightward end, the 66 has a transversely extending portion -tlwh-ich'is disposediwithin the offset portion 31.

The portion 68 is bent to form Waring 69 which encircles and slidably'engages the periphery of the boss 32. At its leftward end, thernember 66 has a further transversely a ring 72 which encircles and slidably engages the periphcry of the radially'outer part 480i the flange 46. The

parts are so arranged that thecentral portion 67 of mem- 2 to a point adjacent the back wall 16 of the casing 11 by lifting the handle 63.

A further rod 76 is affixed to and extends leftwardly from the ring 72 of member 66. A pulley 77 is rotatably supported on rod 76 and it is located in the axially inner oifset part 38 of the wall 23wadjacent the radially inner part 47 of flange 46. Thus, the pulley 77 moves around the part 47 of flange 46 when the member 66 is moved by operation of the handle 63.

As shown in FIGURE 4, a cord 81 is anchored at one end thereof to the casing 11 by being passed through an opening 8 2 in the wall of the lower offset part 38. The cord is anchored thereto in any suitable fashion, here by being knotted. The cord 81 is passed around a portion of the periphery of the pulley 7'7 and thence passes through an arcuate opening 80 in the support 4 1 intothe central opening in thepost 43. The cord 81 then passes through the central openings in the spindles 44 and 56, through an opening 83 inthe ofliset portion 59 of the end wall 58' of spindle 56. This end of the cord 81 is secured, asby knotting, inthe space between the ofiset portion 59 and the opposing wall of recess 33.

Operation To load the device 10, the handle 63- ismoved to its uppermost position adjacent the upper edge of opening 13. This moves the central portion 67 of member 66 to a position adjacent the back wall 1-6 of the casing. This movement of the member 66 also effects movement of the sliding spindle 56 leftwardly so that it is fully telescoped over the stationary spindle 44. Thus, when the handle 63 is raised, the member 66 is pivoted toward the back wall and this eifects corresponding movement of the pulley 77, which moves same away from the opening 80. This, therefore, pulls the cord 81 through said opening and thereby eifects movement of the sliding spindle 56 leftwardly against the contrary urging of the spring 61.

When the spindle 56 is in its leftward position, the first roll R of toilet tissue is inserted through opening 13 and placed around the spindles 44 and 56 and is moved leftw-ardlytherealong to, iaposition in the lower, left-hand corner or" the casing. The second roll R is inserted into the casing and is moved into the upper lefthand corner thereof and is placed on the roll R The third roll R is then inserted into the casing and is moved into the upper uighthand corner thereof. The roll R is held in this position by hand, ordinarily the hand which the operator is using to hold the handle 63 in its vupper position.

, by broken lines at 84 in FIGURE 2,

The fourth roll R is then inserted into the lower righthand corner of the casing and the handle 63 is permitted to move to its lower position so that the sliding spindle is extended through the milk; and is received within the recess 33. This movement of the handle is assisted by the spring 61. The chamfer on the rightward edge (FIG- URE 3)v of the flange 57 permits t'he'flange to slide past the leftward end of the core in the 'roll R when the roll R is in the lower righthand corner of the casing. However, such chamfer is designed so that the flange 57 will move the roll R rightwardly when the roll R is removed from the lower righthand corner of the cabinet.

At some point during the downward movement of handle 63 the central portion 67 of member 66 lifts the rolls R and R off the rolls R and R Thus, in the fully loaded condition of the device 10, the first and fourth rolls R and R are supported upon the bottom wall 21 and encircle the spindles 44- and '56, respectively, and the rolls R and R rest on the central portion 67 of the member 66 above the rolls R and R respectively. The

the handle has been moved to an appropriate point, the core or" the roll R; will drop out through the opening 13. Roll R then drops into the lower righthand corner of the device. By moving the handle downwardly, the sliding spindle 56'is moved rightwardly and through the core of roll R so that said roll is thereafter supported in dispensing position. It is not necessary to raise the handle 63 to its uppermost position to effect this change of rolls and, thus, the flange 57 does not clear the end of the roll R However, even if the handle 63 is raised to its uppermost position, the fact that the flange engages the ends of the roll R causes no serious difliculties in the operation of the device because of thechamfer on the flange 57, as discussed above. I

When roll R is used up, the handle 63 is raised to its uppermost position. This retracts the spindle 56 so that the core-of roll R drops out through the dispensing opening 13 and it also moves flange 57 past the leftward end of the roll R so that the leftward end of roll R in engaged by said flange. Thus, when the handle is again moved to its lowermost position, the flange 57 will hold the roll R with respect to the spindle 56 and said roll 11 will move rightwardly therewith into dispensing position. It is to be noted that during at'least the initial part of the rightward movement of roll R the roll R will be resting thereon and will .move rightwardly therewith. However, at some point during its travel as :a result of downward movement of handle 64, the central portion 67 of member 66 will lift the roll R off the roll R and said roll R will complete its rightward movement into the dispensing position -alone. I p

When the roll R is used up, the handle 63 is raised as before so that the core of said roll drops out through the opening 13. The roll R having previously been moved rightwardly with roll R1, Wfllnowbe in a position where i it can move downwardly into a position .in the lower righthand corner of the casing. The handle 63 is then moved to its lower position and thereby the sliding spindle 56 is extended through the roll R to hold same in dispensing position. A horizontal guide rail, which is indicated may be provided if needed in the leftward side of the rear wall 33 to prevent downward movement of the roll R when it is notin the upper righthand corner of the cabinet. I

Although a particular prfeired embodiment of the invention has been disclosed hereinabove :for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that variations or modifications thereof, which lie within the scope of the appended claims are fully contemplated. 7

What is claimed is:

ml. A toilet tissue storing and dispensing device, .comprising: a casing; elongated spindle means supported within said casing, the spindle means being sufliciently long to hold a plurality of rolls of toilet tissue within said casing with the cores of said rolls being longitudinally aligned, said spindle means including a plurality of spindles which are movable into telescoping relation, each spindle being adapted to hold a roll of toilet tissue;

means for moving said spindles into telescoping relation;

fourth roll R4 is immediately available for dispensing.

toilet tissue through the opening 13. After part of the tissue is used from roll R this roll is then supported upon the, spindles 56, which is fully capable of such support.

When the roll R is used up, the handle 63 is raised to eflect leftward movement of the sliding spindle '56. The central portion 67 of member 66 moves toward the backwall 16 and ceases to support the rolls R and R When extended position with respect to each other; and manually operable means for moving said spindles into their telescoped relation.

'3. A toilet tissue storing and dispensing device, comprising: a covered casing having a'dispensing opening, said casing defining an enclosure for holding toilet tissue rolls in horizontally and vertically arranged rows; a pair of horizontally arranged, tubular spindles, one of said spindles normally extending horizontally across said dispensing opening and being mounted for telescoping over the other spindle; means projecting from said one spindle for engaging a toilet tissue roll on the other spindle when said spindles are telescoped and for moving same oif said other spindle onto said one spindle; means for moving said spindles between their telescoped and extended positions and means for supporting the rolls above those on said spindles in vertically spaced relationship with respect thereto.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said other spindle is stationarily mounted on said casing; a spring for urging said spindles into their extended position with respect to each other; an elongated flexible element for moving said spindles into their telescoped position; and a manually operable handle for effecting operation of said element.

5. A device according to claim' 3 wherein saidmeans for moving said spindles and said supporting means includes a pivotally mounted member which is movable between a position wherein it is between the rolls mounted on the spindles and the rolls thereabove and a position wherein it is located'sidewardly of the rolls; and a manually operable handle connected for moving said member between its positions.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein said means for moving said spindles includes a cord anchored at one end to said casing and anchored at the other end to said one spindle; a pulley mounted on said member; said cord at least partially encircling said pulley whereby movement of said member effects movement of cord longitudinally of the spindles.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

1. A TOILET TISSUE STORING AND DISPENSING DEVICE, COMPRISING: A CASING; ELONGATED SPINDLE MEANS SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID CASING, THE SPINDLE MEANS BEING SUFFICIENTLY LONG TO HOLD A PLURALITY OF ROLLS OF TOILET TISSUE WITHIN SAID CASING WITH THE CORES OF SAID ROLLS BEING LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED, SAID SPINDLE MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SPINDLES WHICH ARE MOVABLE INTO TELESCOPING RELATION, EACH SPINDLE BEING ADAPTED TO HOLD A ROLL OF TOILET TISSUE; 